Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $5,712 per month in Saint John Island vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,781 per month in Saint John Island vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,850 per month in Saint John Island vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Saint John Island costs about 563% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Saint John Island sits 328% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.58 $31.58

$1.96 ฿65.7

1511.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 $149

$18.35 ฿616

711.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.14 $15.14

$7.48 ฿251

102.41%

Cappuccino

$8.98 $8.98

$2.02 ฿67.7

344.55%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$0.85 ฿28.45

310.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$0.36 ฿11.94

869.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.08 $5.08

$2.14 ฿71.7

137.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 $6.84

$3.59 ฿121

90.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.65 ฿55.4

87.27%

White Bread (500g)

$7.95 $7.95

$1.57 ฿52.6

406.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$11.83 $11.83

$1.19 ฿39.95

894.12%

Eggs

$11.80 $11.80

$1.94 ฿65.0

508.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.60 $32.60

$16.19 ฿544

101.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.88 $32.88

$2.99 ฿100

999.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.82 $23.82

$10.94 ฿367

117.73%

Apples (1kg)

$22.12 $22.12

$2.71 ฿91.0

716.24%

Banana (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$1.17 ฿39.18

247.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$17.56 $17.56

$1.69 ฿56.6

939.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$1.60 ฿53.9

637.50%

Potato (1kg)

$7.55 $7.55

$1.38 ฿46.45

447.10%

Onion (1kg)

$7.54 $7.54

$1.20 ฿40.38

528.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.92 $4.92

$0.67 ฿22.46

634.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$0.56 ฿18.70

510.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.17 $9.17

$4.64 ฿156

97.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.45 $23.45

$17.62 ฿591

33.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.41 $4.41

$1.86 ฿62.4

137.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.30 ฿111

86.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$6.98 $6.98

$0.88 ฿29.63

693.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$147 $147

$19.34 ฿649

661.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$30.37 $30.37

$1.36 ฿45.82

2133.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.22 ฿41.11

27.05%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$47.3K $47.3K

$21.4K ฿716.8K

121.65%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$52.0K $52.0K

$22.5K ฿756.3K

130.84%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$296 $296

$70.7 ฿2,372

318.37%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$101 $101

$14.04 ฿471

616.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 $102

$17.49 ฿587

482.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.4 $79.4

$55.8 ฿1,872

42.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.85 $49.85

$26.11 ฿877

90.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.2 $84.2

$83.0 ฿2,787

1.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.5 $99.5

$70.5 ฿2,365

41.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,935 $3,935

$432 ฿14.5K

810.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,468 $3,468

$239 ฿8,020

1351.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,992 $4,992

$822 ฿27.6K

507.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,538 $4,538

$512 ฿17.2K

786.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,537 $4,537

$579 ฿19.4K

683.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

40.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Saint John Island: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,935 in Saint John Island versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 683% higher in Saint John Island, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $149 in Saint John Island versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $982 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Saint John Island vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint John Island costs about 563% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $8,568 per month in Saint John Island and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 661% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 304% more in Saint John Island, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Saint John Island at $5,712. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint John Island it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $5,712 in Saint John Island. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint John Island makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.